Kuznetsova makes a statement by stunning Wozniacki

Double Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova knocked Caroline Wozniacki out of the Sydney International today in only her second event since returning from a serious knee injury.

The Russian has plunged to No85 in the world rankings following her six-month lay-off but fought back from a crushing second set to defeat the Dane 7-6, 1-6, 6-2.

Kuznetsova, US Open champion in 2004 and at the French Open five years later, had to come through the qualifiers but is now looking forward to a quarter-final against second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany.

The 27-year-old, who played with the top of her leg heavily strapped, said: “I just feel fresh, I feel happy, I feel balanced on the court. I feel like I’m doing the right things when I have to do them.

“I’m definitely far away from where I want to be at, but I like how it looks at the moment.”

World No10 Wozniacki paid tribute to the winner and said: “She’s a top player and she’ll definitely get her ranking up. Svetlana’s a good player — she’s a great player. She’s won big tournaments in the past so she knows what it takes.”

Although top seed Agnieszka Radwanska eased through with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm, the world No4 was angry that play was not stopped as temperatures in the city went above 40°C.

On-court temperatures were closer to 50°C and officials provided shading, ice towels and additional drinks for the players, while staff worked shorter shifts to try to mitigate the effects of the heat. However, Radwanska said: “I think this is too hot to play tennis. Even for players, for ball kids, for the people sitting out there, I think it’s just too hot.”

Former French Open champion Li Na, who followed Radwanska on to court, compared the heat to playing in a sauna, but she was good enough to ease past Japan’s Ayumi Morita 6-1, 6-0 in 52 minutes.

“I was feeling unbelievable,” said the world No6. “They say it was 40 but on the tennis court it was even more. I had just finished the first set and my feet were already burning.”